MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
“We will never concede one drop of our waters to Spain”, pledged Picardo on Gibraltar Day
Picardo: “this party has just begun” says addressing the crowd (gibnews.net) 
The stage with all the distinguished visitors during the main ceremony (gibnews.net) By Jim Watt - The Gibraltar National Day political rally organised by the Self-Determination Group for Gibraltar (SDGG) was held at Casemates square on Tuesday. On stage were local politicians, including the leader of the opposition, heads and representatives of other British Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands, British MP's from all parties and Mr Perry Stieglitz Gibraltar's man in the US.
An estimated 10,000 people filled Casemates Square, the ICC balconies and the entrance of Main Street
For the first time there was a specially recorded message from David Cameron the British Prime Minister who made it clear that his government was 100% behind Gibraltar and that there would be no changes in Gibraltar's status without the consent of its people.
Denis Matthews, the Chairman of the SDGG said “Sr Garcia Margallo will learn his tactics at the border will only serve to harden Gibraltarians' resolve. They will get Spain nowhere!”
Mr Matthew added ”Gibraltar has been here before (with Spain) and we've survived.“
Chief Minister Fabian Picardo started his National Day speech by thanking the Prime Minister Cameron on behalf of all Gibraltarians for his staunch support on this important day.
The Chief Minister also made it a point of thanking Gibraltarians for the dignity they have shown in recent months while under pressure from Spain.
He said ”we keep calm and carry on”, but what we will never do is concede one drop of our water to Spain.
Addressing the crowd, Mr Picardo delivered a short but impassioned speech in which he emphasised that the soil, sea and air of Gibraltar belong to no-one but the people of Gibraltar: “Hell will freeze over before any other flags fly in Gibraltar that are not our flags. Red, white and blue. Red, white and proud. Red, white and free!”
Mr Picardo said the people of Gibraltar are strong and free. And he ended with a clear message for Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García-Margallo: “Let nobody think that this party is over. This party has just begun!”
Shortly after the Chief Minister’s speech, the Mayor Tony Lima released 30,000 red and white balloons and Francis Chipolina sung “Gibraltar, Gibraltar”. There was a pyrotechnics display from Watergate House
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Read all commentsHa, ha, ha!!!!!
Sep 11th, 2013 - 02:46 am 0Suck it up Spain!!!! Your b*st*rd children in Argentina FAILED to steal the Falklands from the British and you will FAIL to steal Gibraltar. Oh you can whine and moan but it won't do you any good.
These lands are ours, we will NEVER give them up.
Ave it!!! and live with the disappointment
In news elsewhere, it appears that the British Government is considering extending Gibraltar Territorial Waters from the current 3 miles to the UNCLOS limit of 12 miles, where practicable. Possible considerations may include the necessity for the Royal Navy and the Government of Gibraltar to deploy an adequate number and size of fully-armed enforcement vessels. What a surprise for the Guardia Civil or any other Spanish state vessel when they are faced with the new warning. “Leave Gibraltar Waters immediately or be fired on. This is your only warning”! And the shock of the poachers as they, and their vessels, get arrested. The vessels to be destroyed, never returned and no compensation. They'll have to get proper jobs! After release from prison. Much the same for Spanish users of pleasure craft. Stay OUT of Gibraltar Waters or have the “pleasure” of spending 6 months in a Gibraltar prison. And all identified as not being permitted to enter Gibraltar, ever! Perhaps Spanish state vessels could also be seized and their crews imprisoned. Might teach them respect. And repeat offenders should get longer sentences. First offence, 6 months. Second offence, 9 months. Third offence, 12 months. And so on.
Sep 11th, 2013 - 06:41 am 02 Conqueror
Sep 11th, 2013 - 07:13 am 0I think that may be a possibility once the 12 mile limit is in place except I disagree about pleasure craft being included.
It presently seems that anti-British feeling is much muted compared to the level headed Spaniards who see this for what it is; a distraction from the Spanish economy. No need to alienate reasonable people.
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